San Antonio's PechaKucha storytelling series is closing out its 2026 season with an architecture-themed finale on Thursday, October 15, gathering architects, a blacksmith, a historian and a housing advocate at Magik Theatre for an evening of rapid-fire presentations. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a welcome reception, with presentations beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the venue's home inside historic Beethoven Hall at 420 S. Alamo.
The San Antonio Examiner identifies the gathering as Volume 49; CultureMap San Antonio says the series debuted in San Antonio in 2011. PechaKucha itself is a global arts and culture format that gives notable locals a chance to share stories one slide at a time, with each presenter advancing through 20 images every 20 seconds for a total run time of six minutes and 40 seconds. The San Antonio Examiner notes the format was originally created in Tokyo in February 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, and has since expanded into a network active in more than 1,200 cities worldwide — a lineage this year's architecture theme directly references.
Timed to a Statewide Architecture Gathering
The season finale's architecture focus is no coincidence: it coincides with the Texas Society of Architects' TxA26 Annual Conference & Design Expo, which brings architecture professionals to the Henry B. González Convention Center downtown from October 15 to 17, 2026, according to the Texas Society of Architects. PechaKucha organizers built the evening's lineup in collaboration with the statewide group, and the finale was created, per CultureMap, to give architects a platform to share projects and ideas.
Emcee duties fall to Mike Long of Long House Builders, who will guide the evening's roster of presenters. That lineup includes Sanda Coyle, a media executive, leadership coach and co-founder of Coyle Whitson Strategy LLC; Seema Kairam, who advocates for affordable housing at the San Antonio Housing Trust; Jessica Flynn Saldaña, an architectural client who has served on the San Antonio Humane Society board; and Kirt Haeberlein, owner of Picker's Paradise, a local architectural salvage business, all according to CultureMap.
A Blacksmith, a Scholar and a National Medalist
Among the presenters is Robert Diaz de Leon, a Trinity University graduate and owner of Flux Metal Studio, who received the Texas Society of Architects' 2023 Artisan Award for blacksmith work. That recognition, per the Texas Society of Architects, honored his custom ironwork and bronze chandeliers at Hotel Emma, pieces that include heavy bronze fixtures salvaged from historic brewery industrial equipment in the Pearl district.
Also presenting is Everett Fly, a landscape architect and architect with 45 years of experience. Fly received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2014 for his work preserving historic Black settlements and landmarks, and he was the first African American graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Design's master's program in landscape architecture in 1977, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Beyond his design practice, Fly co-founded the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum, according to UT Austin's School of Architecture.
Rounding out the lineup is Michelangelo Sabatino, an architectural educator and historian who directs the School of Architecture + Planning at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Sabatino directs the school, which moved to One Riverwalk Place downtown that fall, according to UT San Antonio Today. The outlet reported that San Antonio's historic built environment and UNESCO World Heritage status were part of what drew Sabatino to the role.
Live Music and Local Bites Open the Evening
The night opens with live music from the 210 Young Jazz Trio, featuring Joel Castillo, Jared Finn and Isaiah Williams, per CultureMap. Complimentary bites will come from Liberty Bar, Olla Express Coffee, Duke's Dive/Mission Bell and Folklores Catering, with drinks available for purchase. Tickets cost $10 per person and can be bought online or at the event.
A Historic Venue Reborn Through Years of Disruption
The finale's setting carries its own architectural story. Magik Theatre reopened at historic Beethoven Hall in June 2026 after a $3.6 million interior renovation that installed new seating, upgraded HVAC systems and added an accessible entrance ramp, according to Texas Public Radio.
Nearby Blush endured roadwork, as Hoodline previously reported on its struggles. Hoodline also covered Magik Theatre's touring shows while its Hemisfair stage sat closed for the work. With the venue's doors now open, Thursday's architecture-themed finale gives the building a fitting audience to show off its own restoration.
